In 1977, the La Mesa Fire burned across 15,444 acres of ponderosa
pine forests on the adjoining lands of Bandelier National Monument,
the Santa Fe National Forest, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Following this event, several fire effects studies were initiated.
The 16 papers herein document longer-term knowledge gained about
the ecological effects of the fire and about Southwestern fire
ecology in general. The presentations are also designed to give
resource managers practical information for managing fire in
local landscapes. Studies presented range from fire histories
and avifauna to geomorphology and arthropods.